Monday, April 2

U.S. census figures released this week show a modest boom in Rochester. Since the last census in 1990 population has jumped more than 20 perecent. City leaders say the growth has been a steady phenomenon over the decade, attributable to a solid, diversified economy. The 2000 census ranks Rochester as the fourth largest city, a distinction that city officials say is already out of date for the still-growing community. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports.

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote this afternoon on the most sweeping overhaul of campaign finance in a quarter-century. The McCain-Feingold bill would ban soft money, or unrestricted contributions to political parties. The proposal has survived several challenges, including one that would have made the whole thing unconstitutional if the court struck down any part of it. The final bill includes an amendment offered by Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone that bars outside groups from airing so-called issue ads late in campaigns. Senator Wellstone says he will vote for the bill and he expects it will pass the Senate easily.

Duluth's restaurant smoking ban, now three months old, is generating more controversy than ever. A few restaurants are openly defying the ordinance. Supporters of the ban say it just needs more time. Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reports.

MPR's Capitol Bureua Chief Laura McCallum updates the status of bills at the State Legislature.

When the draft was abolished in 1973, the decision affected not only the country's military, it also did away with a primary source of recruits for the Indian Health Service . Medical students or Interns facing the draft had the option of serving their time in the Commission Service Corp. To help fill that void the University of North Dakota's Medical school developed the Indians into Medicine or INMED program. Nearly 30 years later, the program is still recruiting and producing health care professionals. Mainstreet Radio's Bob Reha reports.

Thousands of basketball fans are in Minneapolis for the NCAA Final Four Tournament, which ends tonight with the Duke and the Arizona. When not in the Metrodome, visitors swarmed the Final Four nerve center in Downtown Minneapolis and the NCAA's "Hoop City" at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Some came to root for their teams, others just because they always go wherever the Final Four is. Minnesota Public Radio's Helms caught up with some of the fans, and has this montage of voices. The report begins with a couple from Alaska who found out getting tickets at the last minute isn't too difficult.

In addition to fans, the Final Four has attracted some with criminal intent. A number of people have been arrested for scalping tickets. Inspector Sharon Lubinski of the Minneapolis Police Department says her department has also seen the arrival of some professional pick pockets.

MPR's Chris Farrell joins us with a look at how the markets are doing.

In the first half of the 20th century, the union movement in Minneapolis grew with the city. Minneapolis was the flour milling capitol of the country and other industries that supported flour milling, like banking and machine tools, were growing as well. Unions were trying organize the workers, but were opposed by a coalition of employers that came to be known as the Citizens Alliance. The story of how these employers blunted the union movement in Minneapolis is the subject of a new book titled A Union Against Unions. Author William Millikan says at the turn of the century, employers in Minneapolis didn't really have to worry about unions. But in 1902, the Teamsters went on strike, and employers had to change.

A bill allowing Minnesotans easier access to permits to carry concealed handguns in public is headed to the Minnesota House floor for a vote. Last night the bill had its final committee stop in the House Ways and Means Committee, which approved the bill. Despite its success in the House, the bill is expected to have a more difficult time in making it to floor of the Senate. Minnesota Public Radio's Helms reports.

For the past two months, Governor Ventura and education groups have waged a war of words over his lean spending proposal for public schools. After increasing education spending by more than a billion dollars two years ago, Ventura says its now time to hold the line. Educators say they need more money to prevent budget cuts and layoffs. Legislators appear willing to spend more, but as they begin to craft their own education budget, there's still an argument over which numbers to believe. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.

The Minnesota Twins open their season on the road in Detroit this afternoon. Brad Radke will be Minnesota's starting pitcher. For the first time in many years there is a mood of optimism surrounding the team. The Twins are looking to improve on last year's record when they won 69 games and lost 93. LaVelle Neal covers the Twins for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He says the team has a good chance to get off to a winning start this year.

A bill making it a felony to kill or injure pets is getting a better reception from state lawmakers than previous efforts to prevent animal cruelty. This is the fifth time supporters have introduced a felony animal cruelty bill. Opposition from hunting and agricultural interests killed earlier bills, but this year the measure faces little opposition. The Senate version awaits a floor vote, and yesterday the House bill was approved by the Crime Prevention committee. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take a case that could affect a Minnesota law that confines sex predators. The Sexually Dangerous Person's Act is a law that keeps some sex offenders in mental institutions beyond their prison terms. The Supreme Court took a case from Kansas, where a convicted sex offender was committed for treatment after serving his term, instead of being released back into society. The case is reminiscent of the much-publicized Dennis Linehan case of the mid-'90s here in Minnesota. Joining us on the line is Eric Janus, a professor at William Mitchell College of Law, and Dennis Linehan defense attorney.

Advocates pitched state lawmakers yesterday on the notion of at least considering legalizing marijuana for medical use. They told members of the Senate Transportation and Public Safety Budget Division the illegal drug has beneficial uses to treat certain illnesses. They want the state to spend $100,000 to conduct further research on the drug. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.

Minnesota's 2000 census contained some startling numbers as well as some figures which surprised no one. Population declines in Minnesota's most rural counties continued a trend that's affected the western and northwestern regions of the state the hardest. Every county but one bordering North and South Dakota lost people in the last decade. Most people blame a long-term decline in the number of farmers for losses that hit small towns especially hard. Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports.

St. Olaf college will take a big step later today in healing the wounds left behind from a car accident that killed three students and injured two others. The students were on spring break about three weeks ago. They decided to go to New Orleans, but their car hit another car going the wrong way in Illinois. Christopher Hoppe, Sarah Heitman, and Anna Bonde were killed. Ethan Steinkraus and Nick Brown were hospitalized with injuries. The campus gathers tonight in a memorial service for the three who were killed. Joining us on the line is St. Olaf College's Pastor Bruce Benson.

Longtime St. Paul icon Tiger Jack Rosenbloom may have a street named after him today. The St. Paul City Council is expected to approve a measure that would co-name a short stretch of Dale Street "Mr. and Mrs. Tiger Jack Street." 93-year-old Tiger Jack has operated his small store for over fifty years, first in the Rondo neighborhood, and now on the corner of Dale and St. Anthony. He's known in the area as a storyteller and a philosopher as well as a businessman. Lucky Rosenbloom is the chair of the Minnesota Black Republican Coalition and Tiger Jack's son. He's on the line now.

St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman. He will be meeting with President Bush later today.

A major donor to Augsburg College is suing the school. Elroy Stock of Woodbury says Augsburg should either return his half million dollar contribution or fulfill its promise and name a building wing after him. Augsburg refused him the honor when it learned of his now-notorious race-based letter writing campaign but has no plans to return the money. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano reports.

Less than a week before a Presidential Emergency Board is set to make a settlement recommendation on the Northwest Airlines Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association contract dispute, the two sides are headed back to the table. The National Mediation Board has summoned airline and union negotiators to Washington for meetings this weekend. Minnesota Public Radio's Mark Zdechlik reports.

The University of Minnesota is launching an investigation into it's women's basketball program. Head coach, Cheryl Littlejohn, has been placed on a paid leave of absence as the school investigates possible NCAA violations. Mark Rotenberg is the University's general counsel.

Cheryl Littlejohn says she won't comment on the allegations, but told the St. Paul Pioneer press she doesn't consider herself a "quote lawbreaker or rule breaker" our efforts to contact Coach Littlejohn have been unsuccessful. Chris voltz, the head of the U of M women's athletics department, says the women's basketball program will continue to operate during the investigation.

Governor Jesse Ventura says he isn't giving up the fight for campaign finance reform this session. Last month, a key House subcommittee dealt Ventura's reform bill a major setback by laying the plan over until the next year. But new legislation has emerged with many of the same provisions and supporters say it's not too late for action. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.

The St. Olaf College community in Northfield held a memorial service last night for three of its students who were killed last month in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. The students were on their way to Louisiana to do volunteer work over spring break when they were killed on a highway in Illinois. Two other St. Olaf students in the car survived the crash. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

The ACC Craft show gets underway in St. Paul tomorrow. The show features over 250 artists from around the country, many of whom are nationally known for their work. Glenn Elvig is one of several local artists who will be at the show. He designs unusual, sometimes cartoon-like furniture and home accessories. He now works primarily with wood and aluminum, but says he started with clay.

Wahpeton Public Works Director Jerry Lein describes plans to raise levees in an effort to hold back projected flood waters.

University of Minnesota Regents are leery of a joint football stadium for the Gophers and Vikings, fearing it could clash with the school's main mission. Minnesota Public Radio's Patty Marsicano reports on the regents' chilly reception at their meeting yesterday.

Several leaders of Minnesota's African American community say they will take the state to court if the Legislature does not pass a racial profiling bill this session with a mandatory data collection provision. Minnesota Public Radio's Marisa Helms reports.

House Republicans say they'll boost Governor Jesse Ventura's proposed K-12 education funding by more than $200 million while maintaining the governor's proposal for limited overall spending growth. GOP leaders yesterday released spending targets that will help guide budget negotiations over the next six weeks. DFLers say the package remains too focused on tax cuts. Ventura is warning lawmakers not to deviate too far from his proposals outlined in January. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports.